More News

A foreclosure prevention forum and workshop, hosted by U.S. Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Dist. 4), will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the People's Community Baptist Church, 31 Norwood Road in Silver Spring. Learn about federal and state foreclosure prevention programs, get a free pro-bono attorney consultation and meet with bank representatives. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration guarantees an on-site counseling appointment. RSVP by e-mailing donnaedwardsrsvp/events@mail.house.gov with "Foreclosure Prevention" in the subject line. For more information, visit www.donnaedwards.house.gov or call 301-516-7601.

Planning department open house on science center

Voice your thoughts on the upcoming East County Science Center Master Plan at a Planning Department open house held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 30 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Planners want to hear from residents, workers, landowners and anyone interested in the future of the Cherry Hill area as they create a vision for a life sciences center near the Food and Drug Administration headquarters. Drop in any time during the open house to have your say in the future of East County.

Bread giveaway July 1

The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew will be giving away 5,000 loaves of bread for those in need from 12 to 1 p.m. July 1 at the church, 15300 New Hampshire Avenue. Four loaves will be given to each person while supplies last. The giveaway is part of the Lutheran Mission Society's "Caravan of Compassion," which will distribute 100,000 loaves of bread throughout Central Maryland in July. For more information, call 301-384-4394.

Summer trip

to Assateague Beach

Make the most of your summer with a trip to the white beaches, beautiful sunsets and wild horses of Assateague Beach this summer. The Marilyn J. Praisner Recreation Center is offering a $20/seat bus trip to spend the day at the beach 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 7. Reserve your tickets early to ensure a seat on the bus. Every person — adults, children, babies — must have their own seat. Bring your blankets, water, prepared food, towels, sunscreen, swim suits, umbrellas and beach toys. Limited grills are available on the beach. For tickets, contact 240-328-7506.

Family portraits to support volunteer firefighters

Summit Productions staff will be traveling door-to-door July through September offering family portraits that will help raise money for a new ambulance for the Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department. Residents interested in supporting the cause can sign up with the firefighters for a $40 family portrait. Photo sessions by Summit Productions will take place at the station, located at 10617 New Hampshire Ave. in Hillandale.

Hoops for Hope

basketball tournament

WITNESS! HOPE, a nonprofit providing sports equipment and training to student athletes in Ghana, will be hosting a charity basketball tournament 11 a.m. July 3 at Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. Supporters can pay a $10 entrance fee to watch a 10-team double-elimination game and a dunk competition. Spectators are also invited to participate in a three-point shootout. All proceeds will help fund the charity, which is a nonprofit operated by Witness Promotions company. Visit www.witnesspromotions.

com for more information.

Free lupus support group

at Holy Cross Hospital

The Lupus Foundation of America's regional chapter offers a free support group for lupus patients 6:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month at Holy Cross Hospital, 1500 Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring. The next meeting is tonight. The monthly sessions are led by a trained professional who understands the challenges of lupus, which is a chronic, autoimmune disease with no known cure that can damage any part of the body, including skin, joints, heart, blood, kidneys and the brain. About 75,000 people in the greater Washington, D.C., area have lupus, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Ninety percent of those are women. The meeting will be held in the hospital's Private Dining Room 2. For more information, call 202-349-1167 or e-mail info@lupusmd.org. Participants may also check http://tinyurl.com/lupusgrps.

New library hours

Effective July 6, the Montgomery County Public Libraries will institute new hours brought about by cuts to their fiscal 2011 budget. The Marilyn J. Praisner Library will be open 1 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The White Oak Library will be open 1 to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Beginning late summer, the Marilyn J. Praisner Library will be open 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays year-round. Visit www.mont

gomerycountymd.gov/library.

Summer Saturdays nature series begins in July

Beginning July 10, the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park & Museum will host a smorgasbord of nature-related events for the whole family. Activities include a campfire/night hike, a quilting workshop, as well as various arts and crafts revolving around the themes of ecology, recycling and the environment. The series will continue through late August 2010. The museum is located at 300 Oella Ave. in Oella. For specific details on the series' events, call the museum at 410-887-1081.

Come see Mutts Gone Nuts

Trainers Jesse and James are bringing their canine friends to the White Oak Library 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 13. This program, geared toward elementary school aged children, is sure to wow audiences with the Mutts Gone Nuts dog tricks. The event is at the library, located at 11701 New Hampshire Ave. in White Oak. Call 240-773-9555.

Farm animal

at Praisner Library

Volunteers from 4-H will bring an animal at 2 p.m. July 17 to the library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville. The volunteers will explain what goes into caring for farm animals and how they are used on the farm. The program is geared toward preschool and elementary school aged children. Call the library at 240-773-9460 for details.

Free legal-advice clinics

Residents in need of aid on legal matters can attend free legal-advice consultations 6 to 9 p.m. the first and second Thursdays of each month at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. Clients must sign in before 6 p.m. in order to participate. For more information, call the Montgomery County Pro Bono Program Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 301-424-7651.

Items for People and Places may be sent to Jeanette Der Bedrosian, The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. The fax line is 240-473-7501; or e-mail jderbedrosian

@gazette.net. Call 240-473-7505. Deadline is one week prior to publication for consideration.

Free English conversation classes

English conversation classes will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday through August 25 at the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. There is no cost for the class, but participants must purchase a book for $20. Call the center at (240) 777-8411 for more information.

Evening English classes open to Montgomery residents

Interested Montgomery County residents can register for English classes, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Episcopal Church of our Savior at 1700 Powder Mill Road in Hillandale.

The course, offered by the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation, in partnership with Crossway Community Center and CASA of Maryland, costs $20, but scholarships are available. Students are accepted on a rolling basis and can register by arriving 15 minutes early to the class location.

Senior volunteer drivers needed

The Senior Connection urgently needs Montgomery County residents to volunteer to help their neighbors 62 and older live as independently as possible by providing escorted transportation to medical appointments, helping with grocery shopping and running errands, and paying a visit or making a phone call to share companionship.

The time commitment and schedule are flexible and volunteers are provided with life-skills training and recognition events. The Senior Connection also provides volunteer liability insurance coverage.

Call The Senior Connection at 301-962-0820 or e-mail seniorconnectionmc@gmail.com.